Hairpin opening device



1950 I 2. K. CLARK 2,519,953

HAIRPIN OPENING DEVICE Filed Jan. 3, 1949 Jfg. 6

INVENTOR.

2am KCLARK OMJAJMOL A TTO ZNEXS Fatented Aug. 22, 1950 U l 1 l'I7EI).-' STAT F 161 2,519,953

HAIRPIN'OPENING DEVIGE Zelladi; Clark,,East Cleveland, Ohio Application'Jannar-y 3, 1949;Serial No.- 68,812

5, Glaims. (Cl. 132%1 The present invention relates to a'hairpinopene ing device. Morespeci-fically, thisinvention-reelates-toa device-adaptedto be heldiin-the mouthc by aperson and'zwhen .thus heldito provide means: against which may. beforced a1 hairpin of'the: spring type commonly knownas a bobbyspinf' and the same: opened-I before application. to--. the;

hair.

Heretofore, it: has been; common. practice to' open the spring-type hairpins :byaforcing'the ends, thereof against the users teeth resulting in pree maturewear of. the-tooth enamel and not infrequently, chipping away of the teeth themselves. It has been suggested in the prior art to use a device adapted to be clamped between .the users teeth to open the hairpins; how-ever, iihfi3d65Vie-6 was of suchv a. design that the, pin, had to be precisely located'on the device while the pin was being opened. The device has not attained'w-id'espread use becauseof thisfact andalso because the required movement being an uncommon one on the part of the user, the operation was slow, tedious;- and= tiresome; adding uni'lecessary'tirne for setting of v the hair.

It is a principal object'ofthis-inventionto-provide a device having none of the aforementioned disadvantages, being of simple design and operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various way in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of the device shown positioned in the mouth of the user illustrated diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device itself;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the device taken on the plane substantially indicated by the line 44 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the device taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the device.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, the device herein illustrated as embodying one form of my invention consists principally of a 2: platform portiom l iandiamarginaltflange portion: 2. The. platform. I best illustratediniFligs; 3r=and 4 has transverse ridgesr 31 andad extending-gunswardly. from oneeface th -eof andladapted; when the device is placed-,ingtha-mouthof the user; ass;

ill str ed. n iE a. to; assis in: p si ionin and: anchorinathedeirim aslillustiatedin Ei zlz. The: illnstratedyserratioiis. ;=and 4 a;r,e;;so spacedithat;

ha ethe f? he; u erirmav he. plac i in front. of:

alsoprovides'suflicientareawithwhich-the teetl'r may-engage so as--to-hold-the-device-securely in' position during use. The fact that it extends for a substantial distance back into the mouth of the user is of advantage in that in this way the pivotal force brought to bear on the platform I during use may be resisted by the lips and tongue and not transmitted to the teeth as a bending force. While in the broadest aspects of the invention, the marginal flange 2 may be arranged on the side opposite the ridges, and it is likewise preferably inclined to the platform I at an angle greater than but not substantially greater than The marginal flange '2 should terminate in a tapered or chisel-like working edge to facilitate the easy insertion of the edge of such flange into the pin to be opened or separated. The lateral extent of the marginal flange 2 should be such as to provide a working edge co-extensive with at least the major portion of the width of the mouth of the user. The cross-section of marginal flange 2 should be such that it may extend into the pin for a distance sufiicient to prevent the pin easily slipping therefrom and also to force apart the legs of the pin sufficiently so that one of such legs may be readily gripped by the fingers and the opening operation completed by having the other leg of the pin bear against the flange 2 as an abutment. The marginal flange should be curved to substantially conform to the curvature of the line of contact between 3 the platform and the users teeth, thus providing a convenient and naturally shaped device.

I have constructed one form of my improved hairpin opener of a thermoplastic plastic composition like that used in the manufacture of dentures; however, it is within the contemplation of this invention to fashion the device out of any suitable and low-cost material. I have found that thermoplastic plastic composition is best suited for this purpose as it is generally softer than the teeth, obviating any danger of chipping the tooth enamel and also the plastic composition quickly assumes the temperature prevailing in the users mouth, avoiding shock of a cold surface as would be experienced if the device were made of metal.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described comprising a platform portion adapted to be gripped in the mouth of a person and having a rigid marginal fiange along one side thereof angularly related to the plane of the platform, and curved to substantially conform to the curvature of the line of contact between the platform and the users teeth, and terminating in a chisel edge.

2. A device of the character described comprising a platform portion adapted to be gripped in the mouth of a person and having a rigid marginal flange along one side thereof angularly related to the plane of the platform and having a. lateral extent parallel to the plane of the pla form for a width substantially equal to the width of the platform portion and terminating in a chisel edge.

3. A device of the character described comprising a platform portion serrated on one surface and adapted to be gripped in the mouth of a person and having a rigid marginal flange along one side thereof angularly related to the plane of the platform, and curved to substantially conform to the curvature of the line of contact between the platform and the users teeth, and terminating in a chisel edge.

4. A device of the character described comprising a platform portion serrated on one surface and adapted to be gripped in the mouth of a person and having a rigid marginal flange along one side thereof angularly related to the plane of the platform and having a lateral extent parallel to the plane of the platform, and curved to substantially conform to the curvature of the line of contact between the platform and the users teeth, for a width substantially equal to a major portion of the width of a persons mouth and terminating in a chisel edge.

5. A device of the character described comprising a platform portion serrated on one surface and adapted to be gripped in the mouth of a person and having a marginal flange along one side thereof angularly related to the plane of the platform, and curved to substantially conform to the curvature of the line of contact between the platform and the users teeth, and extending therefrom on the side opposite said serrations and having a lateral extent parallel to the plane of the platform for a width substantially equal to a major portion of the width of a persons mouth and terminating in a chisel edge, said device being made of a rigid thermoplastic material.

ZELLA K. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Brown Apr. 29, 1919 OTHER REFERENCES Number scientific Library of the Patent Ofiice.) 

